Quest's End: The Broken Key #3 (58 page)

A moment later, the dart struck the man, eliciting a startled cry.

Bart rushed forward and reached the man’s side quickly. Already, the poison had begun to take affect and the man’s legs gave way. Crashing to the forest floor, he laid there unmoving.

The forest remained quiet. Scanning the trees further on around the Kelon home, he didn’t find any movement indicating other watchers. Perhaps two were all there had been. After retrieving his dart and redoctoring it with poison, he slowly emerged from the forest and came to a stop two feet from the trees. Still no movement. Nodding to himself, he began crossing quickly toward where Riyan and Chad waited. Before he could reach them, they saw his approach and came out from the trees.

“I think there were only two,” Bart said. “But keep your eyes open just in case.”

Riyan nodded. Then he and Chad rushed to the door, beyond which their families awaited. Chad beat him to it and was the first to enter. Flinging the door open wide, the first person he saw was Eryl with a big smile on his face. The wound on his head had been bandaged.

“Chad!” his mother cried out as tears began to fall. Rushing to her boy, she clasped him in a hug so tightly, she threatened to break his back. His father and brother were there a moment later.

Riyan was clasped in his mother’s embrace, her tears of gladness wetting the collar of his shirt. “I’m alright mother,” he assured her. Coming up behind his mother was the trader, Raestin.

“She always knew you’d come back,” he said. To Paul, Raestin nodded toward the door and said, “See what’s going on.”

“Yes sir,” replied Paul. Taking his guards with him, they headed for the door.

“Bart’s out there,” Riyan told them before they left. “He and four others.”

“I’ll go with them,” Eryl said. “Make sure no one kills the wrong person.” Leaving his family, he rushed out the door.

“Where have you been?” asked his mother when the embrace finally came to an end.

“Yes,” Chad’s father said. “We’ve been hearing all kinds of rumors about you and the King’s Horde.” Looking from Chad, to Riyan, then back to Chad, he asked, “Is it true?”

Chad looked to his friend and grinned. “Riyan?” he said, nodding to Riyan’s pack.

With everyone looking on, Riyan placed his pack on the table and removed the circular key. “Yes,” he said as he pulled it out. “We believe so.” Holding it up for all to see, he basked in the glow of their awe.

“Where is it?” Raestin asked.

Riyan turned to him and replied, “I’m sure you’ll understand if we’d like to keep that particular secret, secret?”

Raestin nodded. “I can,” he replied.

“Suffice it to say, it’s not close,” Riyan told them.

His mother, still hovering next to him like a protective hen, said, “All manner of people have come looking for it, and you.”

“I know,” he said, then looked to the key. “I’m sorry for all the troubles that have come to Quillim because of this.” Returning it to his pack, he slung the pack once again across his back.

“There’s talk that you could be in trouble with Duke Alric because you failed to declare those coins you boys discovered,” said Chad’s mom. Indicating Riyan’s pack wherein the key lay, she added, “And now that?”

“One thing at a time,” Chad assured his mom. “First we have to get to the Horde.”

“And,” Riyan said as he turned to his mom, “rescue Freya.”

“That poor girl,” Kaitlyn said. “Ever since her betrothal she hasn’t known a moment’s peace.”

“We heard that she’s at the Magistrate’s manor,” Riyan said.

“So we believe,” Chad’s father affirmed.

Just then, Bart entered the room. “Riyan, we can’t stay here long,” he said. “One of the soldiers from town appeared.”

“Oh no!” exclaimed Elle, Chad’s mother.

“Don’t worry,” Bart said, “he won’t be raising any alarm.”

“You mean?” asked Chad’s father.

Silently, Bart nodded. Turning back to Riyan he said, “It won’t be long before more begin showing up. I’ll take Chyfe and the twins and watch the lane leading into town.”

“Very well,” replied Riyan. “We’ll meet you there.”

“Okay,” replied Bart. “Don’t take too long.”

“We won’t,” Riyan assured him. As Bart ducked back outside, he turned to his mother. “Mother, you and Chad’s family have to get out of here. Now.” He could see in his mother’s eyes the dread of being parted from him yet again. To Raestin he said, “Can you get her out of here?”

“But what about you?” his mother asked.

“I can’t leave Freya,” he said. “Holding her as he’s done, in my mind he’s lost all claim to her.”

“There are always soldiers at the manor,” cautioned Chad’s father. “You’ll never get in.”

As Riyan was about to reply, Kevik entered through the door with staff in hand. He saw Riyan next to a woman to whom he bore a striking resemblance. “Your mother I presume?” he asked.

Riyan nodded. “Mother, this is Kevik,” he introduced him. “He’s a magic user of great power, and has been an ally through many adventures.”

“A pleasure madam,” Kevik said, giving her a slight bow. “Riyan has spoken often of you.” Then he was introduced to Chad’s family.

Once the introductions were completed, Riyan turned to Chad’s father. “The south ford is passable,” he stated. “We just went through it. Lead them there and wait for us.” To his mother he added, “We’re going to rescue Freya and then will meet you at the river.”

“But Riyan…” she began to object then stopped.

Riyan took his mother by the hand. “I know,” he said. “But this is something I have to do.” Then to Raestin, “Can you and your guards see them safely to the ford?”

Raestin nodded and smiled. “I’d give my life for your mother,” he said with complete conviction. He turned his eyes to Kaitlyn and there was no denying the emotion behind them.

“Alright then,” he said. “We’ll get Freya and meet you there.”

“Kevik…” he started to say then saw that he had the far away look he always gets when speaking through the ring. Motioning for the others to remain quiet, they waited half a minute before he came back to them.

“Bart says another five men are on the way,” he explained. “They’re up the road and look to be headed here. He wants to know if you can get away in time or should they take them out.”

Eryl came in through the door and said, “The horses are saddled.”

Riyan nodded. Then to Kevik, “Tell him we’re leaving now.”

Nodding, the far away look returned as he relayed the message. “He said it’s too late, we’ll never make it,” Kevik explained when he came back to himself. “Bart’s taking care of it.”

“Understood,” replied Riyan. Then to the others in the room, he said, “We have to leave. Make your way to the ford and wait for us.” Turning to Raestin, he added, “If trouble develops, get my mother away.”

“I will,” he agreed. “You just be careful.”

Riyan grinned. “This isn’t by far the worst we’ve seen since first setting off on this journey,” he replied.

His mother wrapped him in another hug. “You’ve grown so much since I last saw you,” she said. With tears in her eyes, she said, “Your father would have been so very proud of you.”

Returning her hug, words escaped him as emotions once again welled up. “Stay with Raestin,” he managed to get out. “He seems a good man.”

“He is,” she replied.

Breaking the embrace, she walked out with him through the door. Off to one side, Paul and his guards were already mounted and waiting. The Kelon’s horses were saddled as well.

Bart, Chyfe, and the twins were still out by the main road. Once the five approaching men had been dealt with, they would stay there until Riyan, Chad, and Kevik joined them.

“No Eryl,” Chad said. “You must stay with mother and father.” His younger brother was standing next to him by his horse, pleading to be allowed to come along.

“But I can be of help!” he said.

“I understand how you feel,” replied Chad. He then directed Eryl’s attention over to where their mother was being assisted onto a horse by their father. “She’s afraid. All that we’ve known is gone.” Laying a hand on his brother’s shoulder, he said, “She needs you now more than ever.”

“But…” Eryl looked into his brother’s eyes and saw it was no use.

“Take care of them for me should I not come back,” he said.

“What?” exclaimed Eryl. “Don’t talk that way.”

Chad swung up in the saddle. “I’ll see you at the ford,” he said.

About that time, their father came to them. He stood there a moment looking at his son. In the shadows of the night, it was difficult for Chad to see what he was thinking. Reaching his hand out, his father said, “Good luck Chad.”

Chad took the hand, and it seemed as if every wedge that had unknowingly been between them, disappeared in that moment. “Thank you father,” he replied.

“Come along Eryl,” their father said. “Your brother has work to do.”

As Eryl walked away with their father he said to his brother, “You’ll be back! I know it!”

“Come on,” Riyan said. Already having said all the goodbyes he intended, he turned toward the lane leading from the Kelon home to the main road. Kevik and Chad nudged their horses into motion and followed.

Riyan glanced to his friend and could see a smile on his face. When Chad caught him looking his way, he grinned even more and nodded.

Behind them, Raestin soon had his group mounted. With Chad’s father in the lead, they headed off through the woods toward the south ford.

“I was surprised my father shook my hand,” Chad admitted as they rode down the lane.

“Why is that?” questioned Kevik.

“Well, we didn’t exactly part on the best of terms the last time we saw one another,” he explained.

Riyan saw the puzzled look on Kevik’s face and said, “The grinding stone incident.”

“Oh yes,” replied Kevik. He’d heard that story a dozen times if he’d heard it once.

“It was good to see my mother too,” stated Riyan. “I didn’t much care for the idea of Raestin seeing her at first, but he certainly seems to care for her. Couldn’t ask for more I suppose.”

Conversation ceased when shadows were seen moving up ahead. Coming to a stop, Riyan was about to turn off the lane when Bart said, “It’s us.”

They resumed moving forward and were soon joined by Bart and Chyfe. “Where are the twins?” asked Chad.

Bart pointed further ahead. “They’re taking care of the bodies,” he explained.

“Bodies?” asked Kevik. “You mean you killed those five men?”

“Didn’t have much of a choice,” he replied.

“Bunch of swine anyway,” interjected Chyfe. “Though they wore the uniforms of the Duke, they were filthy and crude. How could the Duke have such men in his service?”

“I don’t know,” replied Riyan. “But if we don’t stop killing his men, he’ll come after us. We can’t afford that.” He could see that neither Chyfe nor Bart felt any remorse about the death of those men.

Bart and Chyfe walked with them back to where the twins were now waiting with the horses. “Everything go alright?” Seth asked once they arrived.

Riyan nodded. “They’ll be waiting for us back at the ford,” he explained.

“Okay then,” replied Seth. Swinging into the saddle, he and his brother waited for Bart and Chyfe to mount. Then, with Riyan and Bart in the lead, they began making their way to the Magistrate’s manor to affect the rescue of Freya.

By working their way along the outskirts of Quillim, they came to within half a mile of the manor house without being seen. Once there, they dismounted and hid their horses in a stand of trees, deep in the shadows. The rest of the way, they would have to make on foot.

Soon, the lights of the manor house began appearing through the trees. Bart had the others stay back while he went forward alone to reconnoiter.

The last time he was here, he and Chad were planting incriminating evidence to make Rupert’s life hell. However, now thinking on the problems that followed, perhaps it hadn’t been the best laid plan. Grinning to himself, he couldn’t help but think that it had been fun.

At the edge of the trees on the border of the Magistrate’s manor, he came to a stop. From there, he observed the front and side of the house. Two soldiers were walking the grounds. After watching them for a minute, Bart determined they were making circuits around the manor, each being on the opposite side from the other. Other than the two soldiers, there didn’t appear to be any other sentries.

The house was illuminated brilliantly. Most of the windows on the ground floor were exuding light, as were three on the second floor. One of the windows having light at the back of the house was where he figured Freya to be.

Moving along the fringe of the treeline, he worked his way down until he was across from the second story window at the back of the house. No trellis rose along the side of the house as had been the case near Rupert’s room. Bart figured he could make the climb up to the window, but Freya would never be able to leave the manor that way. There was nothing for it, if they wanted to bring Freya out they would have to enter the manor. Which would mean getting past the two guards patrolling the grounds.

Bart remained hidden in the trees across from the window while he contemplated what they should do. Then suddenly, a silhouette appeared from within the room. It was definitely feminine in nature. Don’t worry Freya, he said to himself. We’ll get you out of there. As a plan formed, he began making his way back to where the others waited.

“She’s in there,” he told Riyan after rejoining them.

“Are you sure?” he asked.

Bart nodded. “There’s a woman in the room the soldiers said she would be in,” he explained. “I think I’ve got a way for us to get in.” Glancing to Kevik, he grinned and said, “Are you up for a little magic?”

“I should be back in Wardean with a comely wench instead of in this godforsaken, backwater village,” Armsman Shlem grumbled to himself. “Why Captain Glaver had to bring us here, at this time of year…?” Shlem liked the comforts of life, that’s why he had originally volunteered for Captain Glaver’s company. The rumor was that his men were given bonuses from time to time and rarely saw combat, which suited him just fine.

Turning the corner yet again, he began making his way toward the back of the manor. Laughter coming from within only worsened his mood. He was thinking rather dark thoughts of those within the house when he reached the back of the house and saw Armsman Cail halfway to the edge of the woods.